The Winter's Tale
By
William Shakespeare
Act I:
Scene 2

POLIXENES.Nine changes of the watery star hath beenThe shepherd's note since we have left our throneWithout a burden: time as long againWould be fill'd up, my brother, with our thanks;And yet we should, for perpetuity,Go hence in debt: and therefore, like a cipher,Yet standing in rich place, I multiplyWith one we-thank-you many thousands moreThat go before it.

LEONTES.Stay your thanks a while,And pay them when you part.

POLIXENES.Sir, that's to-morrow.I am question'd by my fears, of what may chanceOr breed upon our absence; that may blowNo sneaping winds at home, to make us say,'This is put forth too truly.' Besides, I have stay'dTo tire your royalty.

LEONTES.We are tougher, brother,Than you can put us to't.

POLIXENES.No longer stay.

LEONTES.One seven-night longer.

POLIXENES.Very sooth, to-morrow.

LEONTES.We'll part the time between 's then: and in thatI'll no gainsaying.

POLIXENES.Press me not, beseech you, so,There is no tongue that moves, none, none i' the world,So soon as yours, could win me: so it should now,Were there necessity in your request, although'Twere needful I denied it. My affairsDo even drag me homeward: which to hinder,Were, in your love a whip to me; my stayTo you a charge and trouble: to save both,Farewell, our brother.

LEONTES.Tongue-tied, our queen? Speak you.

HERMIONE.I had thought, sir, to have held my peace untilYou had drawn oaths from him not to stay. You, sir,Charge him too coldly. Tell him you are sureAll in Bohemia's well: this satisfactionThe by-gone day proclaimed: say this to him,He's beat from his best ward.

LEONTES.Well said, Hermione.

HERMIONE.To tell he longs to see his son were strong:But let him say so then, and let him go;But let him swear so, and he shall not stay,We'll thwack him hence with distaffs. — [To POLIXENES]Yet of your royal presence I'll adventureThe borrow of a week. When at BohemiaYou take my lord, I'll give him my commissionTo let him there a month behind the gestPrefix'd for's parting: — yet, good deed, Leontes,I love thee not a jar of the clock behindWhat lady she her lord. — You'll stay?

POLIXENES.No, madam.

HERMIONE.Nay, but you will?

POLIXENES.I may not, verily.

HERMIONE.Verily!You put me off with limber vows; but I,Though you would seek to unsphere the stars with oaths,Should yet say 'Sir, no going.' Verily,You shall not go; a lady's verily isAs potent as a lord's. Will go yet?Force me to keep you as a prisoner,Not like a guest: so you shall pay your feesWhen you depart, and save your thanks. How say you?My prisoner or my guest? by your dread 'verily,'One of them you shall be.

POLIXENES.Your guest, then, madam:To be your prisoner should import offending;Which is for me less easy to commitThan you to punish.

POLIXENES.We were, fair queen,Two lads that thought there was no more behindBut such a day to-morrow as to-day,And to be boy eternal.

HERMIONE.Was not my lord the verier wag o' the two?

POLIXENES.We were as twinn'd lambs that did frisk i' the sunAnd bleat the one at th' other. What we chang'dWas innocence for innocence; we knew notThe doctrine of ill-doing, nor dream'dThat any did. Had we pursu'd that life,And our weak spirits ne'er been higher rear'dWith stronger blood, we should have answer'd heavenBoldly 'Not guilty,' the imposition clear'dHereditary ours.

HERMIONE.By this we gatherYou have tripp'd since.

POLIXENES.O my most sacred lady,Temptations have since then been born to 's! forIn those unfledg'd days was my wife a girl;Your precious self had then not cross'd the eyesOf my young play-fellow.